Delegation
Report on 2017, and Plan for 2018 - West Shore Chamber of Commerce
April 3, 2018Pages 10–144 sections
A detailed report outlining the West Shore Chamber of Commerce's achievements in 2017 and their strategic plan for 2018.
11 evening mixers held in 201712 morning coffee talks held in 2017Plan for 2018 includes networking events at Coastal Community Credit Union and Eagle Creek
Kim Anema CAO, Town of View Royal View Royal Town Hall 45 View Royal Avenue Victoria, BC V9B 1A6
27 February 2018
Dear Kim,
Re: Report on 2017 funding and 2018 plan for the Town of View Royal
Further to our recent exchange of e-mails, please find attached a report on the 2017 activities of the WestShore Chamber of Commerce. This report provides further information on activities carried out by the WestShore Chamber which support the WestShore or the region including View Royal, as well as those which directly impacted the Town of View Royal and its business community. In most areas I have provided examples of the work we did in 2017, rather than an exhaustive list as I appreciate there is a fine line between providing detail and too much text.
I hope the report below provides you with sufficient information, but please do not hesitate to get in touch if I can provide anything further!
Yours sincerely,
Julie Lawlor Executive Director
Page 10–14
Report on 2017, and Plan for 2018
RELATES TO VIEW ROYAL KEY STRATEGIC PRIORITY – COMMUNITY & ECONOMIC GROWTH
Page 10–14
| Activity | 2017 Achievement/Contribution | 2018 Plan |
|---|---|---|
| Business Support and Development Providing businesses with the tools and resources they need to thrive. |
Advocacy: • Informed businesses about tax changes being proposed by the federal government with a call to action • Shared BC Fair Wages Commission request for feedback • Invited business community to take part in the BC Chamber Collective Perspectives Survey General member support: • Provision of a range of benefits and Member 2 Member discounts to member businesses • Advisory services to members and non-members seeking assistance • Provision of Grand Opening service such as for Island Afrikan Supermarket in April • Advertisement of job openings (up on 2016) Provision of events to give people the opportunity to make connections, namely: • 11 evening mixers • 12 morning coffee talks, one of which was held in View Royal (Seriously Creative) • A whiskey tasting and a bourbon & beer tasting (proceeds to charity) • Viva La WestShore in May, a fun casino night which raised money for the Goldstream Food Bank • Holiday at Hatley’s at Royal Roads in December, sold out at 185 tickets and raised money for Pacific Centre Family Services Association Holiday Hampers Program Learning/professional development events: • Talk and Tour of CSC William Head • Delivery of 5 By Members For Members workshops, free for members • Delivery of 5 Lunch and Learns, open to members and non-members Discounted access to business and community events for Chamber members, specifically: • SOHO (Small Office Home Office) Conference • Rugby Canada’s Women’s Seven Tournament discounted tickets • Free tickets for members to the William Head On Stage production of Antigone |
• Provision of benefits and discounts • Provision of advisory service • Provision and promotion of our grand opening / events service • Specific support anticipated for the Grand Reopening of Elements Casino • Provision of networking events including a mixer at Coastal Community Credit Union’s new Eagle Creek location • Seriously Creative Coffee Talk planned • Review opportunities for more advocacy |
| Community/Business Promotion The Chamber’s communication tools include a weekly e-newsletter, Twitter and Facebook. West Shore Chamber staff write one article per month in the Business Examiner. |
• View Royal business meet and greet at the Town Hall in November • Town of View Royal logo appeared on 50 Chamber e-newsletters in 2017, with approximately 16,000 views • Town of View Royal logo appeared on the Chamber’s Twitter landing page (3,418 followers) • Tweets and retweets specifically relating to View Royal included The Wine Maker, North of Hadrian’s Kilts and Celtic Clothing, Cascadia Eagle Creek, View Royal Garden Club, View Royal Fire, and the Town of View Royal Traffic Advisories, and events like the Cops for Cancer Jail & Bail • Town of View Royal logo appeared on the Chamber’s Facebook landing page (740 followers to the end of December 2017) • Facebook posts specific to View Royal including Christmas tree chipping location, Seriously Creative, Sarah Johnson Body Unity, Quality Foods and View Royal Casino as well as the All Candidates Forum • View Royal and/or View Royal businesses promoted in 4 Business Examiner articles in 2017 |
• E-news promotion continues as per 2017 • Continued promotion on Twitter given View Royal’s presence there. Facebook also used when opportunity presents |
| West Shore Coordination The Chamber participates in a variety of meetings and initiatives at a local level to represent and support our municipalities and local businesses, and make connections between people. |
Participation in: • The Rotary Club of the West Shore, and support of their initiatives. This included the Chili Cook-Off and WestShore Showcase in September, an event delivered in partnership between the Chamber and the Rotary Club • Westshore Women’s Business Network • Orbus Business Networks • Regular meetings with municipal staff and councillors and/or attendance at Council and Committee meetings • Health Care in the Western Communities gathering, with article afterwards in the Gazette • RCMP Musical Ride initial conversation to suggest local supporters, champions and VIPs • The Gazette’s Women of the West Shore event • West Shore RCMP’s volunteer recognition dinner • Initial meeting on the Millstream Fishway project Support/promotion of: • National Indigenous Day celebrations • Pacific Centre’s AGM and the ribbon cutting of their new Wellness Centre • Brookes Westshore ground breaking ceremony • West Shore Parkway ribbon cutting • Royal Roads University activities and events • Stillpoint Community Acupuncture Shoebox Project support • West Shore RCMP “Cram the Cruiser” Food Drive • Tour de Rock West Shore Gala |
• Continued participation in Rotary, WWBN and other initiatives which contribute to the West Shore • Continued support of West Shore organizations like RRU • Continued promotion of West Shore events and information • Delivery of Vision WestShore 2018, a dinner and panel discussion by kind participation of the five West Shore Mayors |
| Regional Coordination The Chamber holds membership with Tourism Victoria, Think Local Victoria, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and all Chambers of Commerce in the CRD, allowing regular opportunities for exchange of information. |
• Joint mixer at the Q Centre with Young Entrepreneurs Society in January • Joint Mixer at Coastal Community Credit Union with the Esquimalt Chamber held in February • WestShore Chamber/ Sooke Region Chamber joint mixer at Four Points by Sheraton with Costco in June • WestShore Chamber and Tourism Victoria held a well-attended joint mixer at Olympic View Golf Club in July • 5 Chambers mixer held at Camosun College in September • Promotion of UVic and Camosun Co-op Programs to West Shore businesses • Attendance at “Victoria Business Services Collaboration” proposal meeting • Met with Tourism Victoria Visitor Centre staff about the West Shore offer • Participation in Vancouver Island Green Business Certification program Promotion via e-news, Facebook or Twitter of: • TedX at Royal Roads • Our Place clothing drive • Chemistry Consulting survey about recruitment challenges in the Greater Victoria region • The Zone’s annual Toy Drive • Smart South Island Symposium • Think Local Week • Small business $20,000 marketing campaign with Kool FM • Victoria HomeExpo • TELUS Pitch contest for small businesses • Supply Chain Best Practices Management workshop |
• Board Governance workshop open to all regional Chambers • Promotion of BBB cyber security workshop • WestShore Chamber and Tourism Victoria joint mixer planned for July 2018 • 5 Chambers Mixer proposed again for September • Continued promotion of and/or participation in regional items and issues which may be of interest to or impact upon the West Shore |
| Public Program Support Contacted by Federal, Provincial, Municipal and non-profit representatives around their programs, workshops, grants, and other opportunities which we promote to our members and the West Shore community. |
• Delivery of Provincial All Candidates Meet and Greet in April at the Royal Colwood Golf Club • Participation in “Executrek” at CFB Esquimalt from 13-14 July, learning about the work of the Reservists and sailing on the HMCS Yellowknife • All Candidates Forum for the View Royal By-election (for which a separate grant was paid.) Promotion via e-news, Facebook or Twitter of: • Witness Blanket on display at Royal Roads • Access to Small Business BC’s webinars and events • WorkLink events and initiatives • Greater Victoria Public Library new website and initiatives • Smoky Skies bulletins • Canadian Blood Services Blood Drive • Road Safety At Work initiatives |
• Continued support and publicity of opportunities • Anticipated lead on the five West Shore all candidates forums in advance of municipal elections in October |
| Best of The West Shore Awards This event recognizes our community and engages the public to vote for their favourite businesses and community features, including hiking trail, beach, local sports team, and many more. Promotions for the event run across the region and present the West Shore as the best place on the west coast to live, work, and play. |
In partnership with the Goldstream News Gazette, this was the biggest response ever with over 20,000 votes (up from 8,000 in 2016). Full public voting in 40+ categories from July-September, with 295 at the Awards Gala at The Westin Bear Mountain Resort Community on 26 October. View Royal was featured and promoted by: • Picture of and interview with Mayor David Screech inside the Best of the West Shore featurette, alongside other West Shore Mayors (circulation 18,000) • Mayor Screech presented the award for “Best Place to Make Beer/Wine” The following View Royal sites/businesses won Awards: • Thetis Lake (Best Free Fun, Best Hiking Trail, Best Place to Walk Your Dog, finalist Best Beach) • Quality Foods (finalist, Best Grocery Store) • Cascadia Liquor Eagle Creek (Best New Business) • Six Mile Pub & Eatery (finalist, Best Pub) • Seriously Creative (Best Tech Business) • The Wine Maker (Best Place to Make Beer/Wine) • Westshore U-Lock Mini Storage (Best Storage) • Elements Casino (Best for Entertainment) |
• The Gazette is reviewing the featurette and may move to a greater online presence • Continue registration of businesses on voting platform started in 2017, providing them with free name recognition and ultimately more engagement in the voting process |
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RELATES TO VIEW ROYAL KEY STRATEGIC PRIORITY – ENHANCE LIVEABILITY
| Activity | 2017 Achievement/Contribution | 2018 Plan |
|---|---|---|
| Arts Support Work with arts organizations such as the Victoria Conservatory of Music, the West Shore Arts Council, and Coast Collective to promote and provide opportunities for performances and displays. |
• Promotion of Coast Collective’s Raise the Roof Fundraiser and other activities. Coffee Talk held there in April sponsored by Pacific Coastal Airlines • Promotion of the Victoria Conservatory of Music activities and events, as well as collaboration on our Viva La WestShore event • Promotion of West Shore Arts Council Light Up the Hills as well as other events and initiatives • Collaborated with the West Shore Arts Council on Viva La WestShore as well as the Chili Cook-Off and WestShore Showcase |
• Continued support and promotion of the arts in the West Shore. Anticipate increased interest in performing arts centre |
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Extracted from: 2018 04 03 Council Agenda - Agenda - Pdf